VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis celebrated a trimmed-back Easter Vigil yesterday after having
reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he began to put his mark on the Roman
Catholic Church.

Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of the service,
in which the faithful recall the period between Christ’s Crucifixion on Good Friday and
Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

One of the most-dramatic moments of the Easter Vigil service that usually follows — when the
pope would share the light of his candle with others until the entire basilica twinkled — was
shortened this year, as were some of the Old Testament readings.

The Vatican has said these provisions were in keeping with Francis’ aim to not have his Masses
go on too long. The Easter Vigil under Benedict XVI typically ran nearly three hours. The new pope
has made it clear that he prefers his Masses short and to the point: He even was caught checking
his watch during his March 19 installation ceremony. Yesterday was no different: The vigil ended
just shy of 21/2 hours.

Francis riled traditionalists but endeared himself to women and liberals by washing and kissing
the feet of two young girls during a Holy Thursday Mass at a juvenile-detention center in Rome,
when the rite usually calls for only men to participate. A day later, Francis reached out with
friendship to “Muslim brothers and sisters” during a Good Friday procession dedicated to the
suffering of Christians from terrorism, war and religious fanaticism in the Middle East.

In his homily yesterday, Francis kept his message simple and tied to the liturgical readings,
noting how Jesus’ disciples found his tomb empty and were surprised and confused.

“Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness, and that
is where death is,” he said. “Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with
trust: He is life!”

He later baptized four men, part of the Easter Vigil ritual.

Today, Francis will celebrate Easter Mass and deliver his
Urbi et Orbi speech, Latin for
To the City and the World. Usually, the pope also issues Easter greetings in dozens of
languages.